P olitics in Romania can be a bloody business, especially on the right. The excesses of the Iron Guard, an insurrectionary, violently antisemitic, ultranationalist 1930s political-religious militia, stood out even at a time when fascist parties were wreaking havoc in Germany, Italy and Spain. Given what is happening in Europe today, the events of that period are instructive. Iron Guard founder Corneliu Codreanu, a ruthless assassin who was himself assassinated in 1938, and his ally turned enemy, the pro-Nazi general Ion Antonescu, who was executed for war crimes in 1946, are back in the news of late. That’s because both men have been lauded as national heroes by Călin Georgescu, shock winner of last weekend’s first round of Romania’s presidential election. No mere throwback, Georgescu is very much a man of our times – a radical, hard-right, pro-Russia populist-nationalist who wants to make Romania great again. His anti-globalisation, anti-Nato, Eurosceptic platform, entitled “Food, Water, Energy”, stresses self-sufficiency, and aims to return the country to its rural roots. He does not belong to a conventional political party. Instead he uses TikTok to reach millions of followers. A sustainable development specialist described, appropriately, as a “toxic waste expert”, Georgescu claims to speak “for those who feel they do not matter and actually matter the most”, as he puts it. Inflation, debt, corruption and security are the big issues as the country heads into parliamentary elections this weekend, followed by a presidential runoff due on 8 December. Georgescu’s first round winning margin was narrow: 22.9%, against 19.17% for the centrist candidate, Elena Lasconi – and Romania’s constitutional court has ordered a recount , throwing the result and the timing of the runoff into doubt. If and when it goes ahead, the Liberal party and voters on the left are expected to switch support to Lasconi in a concerted bid to block Georgescu. This unprecedented turmoil is dramatising another pan-European worry: Russian hybrid warfare and, specifically, election interference and disinformation campaigns via social media. Georgescu’s feat in coming from nowhere to win raised red flags about “preferential treatment” and under-the-radar influence operations. An inquiry has been launched amid calls for TikTok to be suspended. Yet even if Georgescu is ultimately thwarted, the evident appeal of his hard-right, sovereigntist agenda could shift the next parliament to the right and profoundly affect Romania’s future direction. Nato has particular reason to worry. Earlier this year the alliance announced a $2.7bn expansion at its Mihail Kogalniceanu base in Constanta, on the Black Sea coast. When complete, it will be the largest Nato military base in Europe. Its presence underscores Romania’s vital role in maintaining supply routes to Ukraine, facilitating Kyiv’s grain exports, and holding the frontline in the west’s deepening confrontation with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Yet if he has his way, Georgescu would cut aid to Ukraine and limit Romania’s collaboration with Nato, which he believes makes the country a target. He is critical of the deployment of US anti-missile batteries at Deveselu, in southern Romania, which he deems unnecessarily provocative of Moscow. All this is sending shivers across a Europe that already feels itself under siege, internally from extremist political parties, and externally from a subversive Russia and its anti-democratic allies . Instability along the EU’s south-eastern frontline, exacerbated by economic discontents, is increasing. Fear of what Russia might do next, after Ukraine, is driving support for Kremlin appeasers and conciliators. Elections in Moldova, Romania’s neighbour, in November provided additional chilling insights into these shared challenges. Maia Sandu, the country’s pro-western president, narrowly won re-election in the teeth of a covert, Russian-inspired and funded campaign to oust her. Sandu defeated Moldova’s version of Georgescu, the Kremlin-friendly outsider Alexandr Stoianoglo. A referendum on EU integration in October was also illicitly targeted by Moscow. ] Across the Black Sea, Georgia’s voters are embroiled in a political nightmare after the ruling party, Georgian Dream, stole October’s parliamentary elections. The EU has rejected the outcome, highlighting “significant irregularities”, bribery, impersonation and violence. Adding insult to injury time, a former Manchester City footballer, Mikheil Kavelashvili , looks set to be installed as president. Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion Georgian Dream’s authoritarian drift is blamed for a breakdown in EU accession talks. The party is viewed as increasingly influenced by Russia, which was once again reportedly at work behind the election scenes. Passionate opposition street protests , continuing last week, and a boycott of parliament have failed to overturn the result. Brussels has expressed dismay. US president Joe Biden said he was “ deeply alarmed by the country’s democratic backsliding” – but little has been done to help. Score that one to Moscow, too. The story is not so very different elsewhere in south-eastern and central Europe. In Serbia, Bosnia, Hungary and Slovakia, right-leaning political leaders pay court to Putin and challenge the EU values they profess to uphold. Even in France and Germany, heartlands of the European project, the rightist Russian-incited rot has set in. Where Angela Merkel once ruled, Marine Le Pen and Alice Weidel now strut. Nationalist-populist parties feeding off anger over cost of living, migration and cultural tensions, and encouraged and funded by a hostile Russia waging hybrid and cognitive warfare – these are the twinned foes disrupting , dividing and weakening European democracies. None is immune. None has yet worked out how to turn the tide. And now a third negative force is at work. Romania’s are the first national elections to be held in a western democracy since Donald Trump triumphed in America. Is there a Trump effect? His cynical populism, me-first economics, pro-Russia stance and disdain for democratic norms and values exemplify – and spuriously validate – all that is going wrong across Europe today. Recalling the 1930s, some say Codreanu’s Iron Guard-style fascism is returning. Maybe, maybe not. Whatever name you give it, it’s frightening. Simon Tisdall is the Observer’s Foreign Affairs Commentator
While the consolidation of rural commercial banks in Hebei may bring about certain benefits, such as improved financial stability and enhanced competitiveness, it also raises concerns about the impact on local communities and the accessibility of banking services. Rural commercial banks play a crucial role in providing financial services to rural areas and supporting local economic development. The consolidation of these banks could potentially lead to branch closures, job losses, and reduced access to banking services in remote areas.Kingsview Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Eversource Energy ( NYSE:ES – Free Report ) by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,920 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 455 shares during the quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Eversource Energy were worth $267,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of ES. Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its holdings in Eversource Energy by 0.6% during the second quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 3,385,281 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $191,979,000 after buying an additional 20,207 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Eversource Energy by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 3,135,652 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $177,823,000 after purchasing an additional 354,429 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its stake in Eversource Energy by 26.9% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 1,765,481 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $100,110,000 after purchasing an additional 374,458 shares during the last quarter. M&G Plc grew its holdings in Eversource Energy by 16.8% during the second quarter. M&G Plc now owns 1,626,685 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $92,721,000 after purchasing an additional 234,361 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Eversource Energy by 10.1% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,323,319 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $75,051,000 after purchasing an additional 121,663 shares during the period. 79.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Eversource Energy Stock Down 0.2 % Shares of ES opened at $64.48 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. Eversource Energy has a 12 month low of $52.09 and a 12 month high of $69.01. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $64.33 and its 200-day moving average is $63.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.63 billion, a PE ratio of -41.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.61. Eversource Energy Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 23rd were given a dividend of $0.715 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 23rd. This represents a $2.86 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.44%. Eversource Energy’s dividend payout ratio is -182.17%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Scotiabank raised their price objective on Eversource Energy from $57.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. Barclays raised their price target on Eversource Energy from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Eversource Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Eversource Energy from $69.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $70.58. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ES Eversource Energy Profile ( Free Report ) Eversource Energy, a public utility holding company, engages in the energy delivery business. The company operates through Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution, and Water Distribution segments. It is involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity; solar power facilities; and distribution of natural gas. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ES? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eversource Energy ( NYSE:ES – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Eversource Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eversource Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
With ever-advancing technologies, more and more airlines have announced that they will be introducing free WiFi for their customers in the next year or so, including, most recently, Air Canada , which will introduce free internet for its loyalty program members starting in 2025. WiFi for you, you, and you In addition to Air Canada’s announcement on December 13, when the airline said that starting in May 2025 , it would roll out a free WiFi offer to Aeroplan members starting with its short-haul fleet, several other airlines have promised customers the ability to surf the web free of charge in 2025. For example, on September 26, Air France said that it was revolutionizing its WiFi service, a move to continue its journey upmarket. From 2025, it will progressively roll out the service for Flying Blue customers. It is being enabled by Starlink’s connectivity solutions. Airlines have also expanded their WiFi services in the United States. In September, United Airlines , which currently offers free messaging and access to its website and app for all passengers, will enter the free WiFi space in 2025. Testing of the service will begin in early 2025, with the first passenger flights being deployed later during the year. airBaltic should be another carrier that will link up with Starlink to offer free WiFi across its fleet. When the Latvian airline announced that it tested the company’s internet solution in March, it said that it had been working toward acquiring the supplemental type certificate (STC) approval, resulting in the installation of the first antennas on its Airbus A220-300 aircraft in late 2024. In September, airBaltic provided an update on its progress to certify and begin equipping its fleet with Starlink antennas, saying that free in-flight internet was “coming soon.” United Airlines will offer free Starlink WiFi across its fleet starting in 2025, providing faster, more reliable internet on over 1,000 planes. Expanding connectivity Those are just some of the airlines that have promised to introduce free WiFi sometime in 2025. Others, albeit sometimes on a limited scale, have already provided the service, such as Delta Air Lines’ connectivity solution. On August 12, Delta Air Lines announced that it would begin offering free WiFi on its long-haul fleet. While the service has been available on more than 700 aircraft flying domestic itineraries, the airline has announced free internet connectivity on its long-haul network. However, the carrier emphasized that in order to ensure premium service, it was “rolling out fast, free Wi-Fi on Viasat-equipped widebody aircraft on a route-by-route basis.” Delta Air Line’s current WiFi map showed that apart from coverage across North America, customers can expect WiFi connectivity in Europe and Brazil, with no service when flying across the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii. “Additional routes will be phased in as high-quality, reliable service becomes available. This strategy mirrors the approach taken with domestic installations in 2022.” Qatar Airways has also been slowly phasing in Starlink-offered internet services following its announcement that it would utilize the Musk-owned service in May . On December 12, the carrier began flying to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), with the first flight being operated by a Starlink-equipped Boeing 777-300ER , registered as A7-BAF. At the same time, the Qatari carrier celebrated the fact that instead of the 12 planned aircraft with WiFi connectivity, it now had 15, surpassing its roll-out target in 2024. Other airlines that recently began and have continued to implement fleet-wide free WiFi include but are not exclusive to Air New Zealand (first trials in 2024, domestic fleet-wide rollout in 2025) , Hawaii Airlines , and WestJet (since December) . Qatar Airways has added its fourteenth destination in the Americas with a new service from Doha to Toronto Blue pioneers According to Lufthansa , it was the first airline to provide internet access on long-haul aircraft worldwide in 2003. However, the service did not last long, and in 2006, after Boeing had stopped supporting its ‘Connexion by Boeing’ satellites, the German carrier ended the program. In December 2013, JetBlue announced that it would launch its free WiFi solution, marketed as Fly-Fi. At the time, the airline’s statement read that it was the first service to bring real broadband internet in the sky at the same internet speeds its passengers had been used to while browsing the web at home. In December 2023, JetBlue celebrated the tenth anniversary of Fly-Fi, reiterating that it was the first and only major US carrier to offer free WiFi on all flights. The company reflected that providing free, high-speed connectivity for aircraft flying in the air was a unique challenge in 2013. JetBlue celebrates 10 years of complimentary inflight WiFi service. The airline was the first airline to offer inflight WiFi.In the midst of the autumn and winter seasons, when the air turns crisp and the leaves fall gracefully from the trees, many individuals find themselves drawn to the idea of bringing a touch of nature indoors. For some, this means purchasing fresh cut branches to adorn their living spaces, while for others, it may entail investing in a trendy color-changing houseplant. However, recent experiences have left many questioning the true value of these choices, as a high price tag and disappointing results have led some to wonder if they have fallen victim to a so-called "tax on intelligence."
Sharks visit the Kraken after Walman's 2-goal gameOpenAI Sora, the latest creation from the renowned artificial intelligence research lab, OpenAI, has been the subject of intense speculation and hype leading up to its launch. Promising groundbreaking advancements in natural language processing and machine learning, Sora was poised to revolutionize the way we interact with AI technology.Stay tuned for more updates on "Mistaken Identity 3" and Yiwu Yin's special appearance as the film gears up for production and eventual release. With his talent and charisma, Yiwu Yin is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences and solidify his place as a versatile and respected actor in the industry. "Mistaken Identity 3" is shaping up to be a must-see film for fans of thrilling mysteries and captivating storytelling.
4. Improved Digestion:
In addition to advocating for mass deportations, Trump has also proposed other measures to tighten immigration controls, such as building a border wall, restricting legal immigration, and ending birthright citizenship. These policies have been met with both support and criticism, with some arguing that they are necessary for national security and others contending that they are discriminatory and counterproductive.
The early return to the European stage presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Real Madrid. It will require an immense amount of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice from every member of the team, as well as a willingness to push themselves to their limits and beyond. But it also offers a chance for redemption, a chance to prove their worth and show the world what they are truly capable of when they come together as a united front.None
Christmas cheese urgent alert as products recalled due to potentially deadly bacteria